Monday, March 10, 2008

Moche Portrait Vessels



Moche people thrived in pre-Columbian Peru, contributing advanced clay-molding talent that resulted in portrait vessels (like pictured, circ. 100BC-300AD). These vessels were not only usable but the faces were so accurate they also provided a record of everyday people from all aspects of society, i.e. warriors, infirm, family, professionals, laborers, erotica, etc. Artists strived to capture exact likeness, including all imperfections and avoiding any artificial "beautification". When you see it, this level of realism really adds to identifying with this person's portrait, even millenia later. A great private-gone-public collection is in the Museo Larco in Lima, Peru. Get a glimpse at museolarco.org.
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The Guest Room's Window: Art Travels

Keep checking the Guest Room Window for art adventures outside the house.

LONG ISLAND: Nassau County Museum of Art's OpArt exhibit features 1960's paintings with optical designs that create fluctuating spatial depth (with potential for retinal after-images, without a hangover). If the OpArt's abundance of geometric form and color is too much, the adjacent Tee Ridder Miniatures museum brings your retina down to scale. "Tee" was a fine arts miniaturist who created over 100 miniature rooms with period precision, many on display here. Nassaumuseum.com gives more info.

WYOMING: Dad's art interest began with American firearms art. If you start your art journey there, one of the most comprehensive American firearms collection is at Buffalo Bill Historic Center in Wyoming; you can check out their searchable digital firearms collection at http://www.bbhc.org/collections/BBHC/index_CFM.cfm.